Preston Pharmacy News - May 2011

National Nurses Week is May 6 through May 12. National Nurses Day is May 6, 2011. The theme for this year is “Nurses Trusted to Care”. During this time of recognition, we would like to thank nurses for their dedication to patient care.

Sunscreen Refresher

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and summer is approaching, making it a good time to review the basics of preventative care. Sunlight consists of two types of harmful rays: ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. UVA “aging rays” penetrate deeper and are responsible for signs of premature aging such as wrinkling and age spots. UVB “burning rays” are the primary cause of sunburn. Exposure to both forms can lead to the development of skin cancer. Sunscreens are available in ointments, creams, gels, lotions, sprays, and wax sticks and have a sun protection factor (SPF) which is the product’s ability to deflect the sun’s UVB rays. The key to protection is proper application. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum (protects against UVA and UVB rays), water-resistant sunscreen with SPF of at least 30. It should be applied to dry skin 15-30 minutes before going outdoors. Approximately one ounce of sunscreen (enough to fill a shot glass) should be applied to exposed skin every 2 hours or after swimming or heavy perspiring. Unless otherwise indicated by an expiration date, the FDA requires all sunscreens be stable for at least 3 years. Other tips include wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, and using extra caution near water, snow, and sand.1

Lansoprazole ODT Alert

Teva Pharmaceuticals recently withdrew its lansoprazole delayed-release orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) from distribution. This was in response to reports of their product clogging and blocking oral syringes and gastric and jejunostomy feeding tubes when it was administered as a suspension through these devices. According to the FDA alert, the tablets may not fully disintegrate when water is added and/or they may disintegrate but later form clumps that adhere to the inside walls of oral syringes and feeding tubes. Preston Pharmacy receives their supply from a manufacturer other than Teva and at the current time this has only been reported as an issue with Teva’s product.2

Medication Safety

Preston Pharmacy is committed to patient safety. In order to increase awareness of medication safety issues, over the next several months, this newsletter will highlight the Top Ten Dangerous Drug Interactions in Long Term Care as well as look-alike and sound-alike medication names recognized by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and The Joint Commission.3,4

Dangerous Drug Interaction:
Coumadin (warfarin) and NSAIDs (diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, meloxicam, naproxen, sulindac) – potential for serious gastrointestinal bleeding. INR should be monitored frequently and resident should be monitored regularly for signs and symptoms of an active bleed. Close attention should also be paid to the formation and appearance of bruises. **note: this is not a complete list of NSAIDs, please refer to additional references if needed or unsure of a medication’s pharmacological class**

Look-Alike and Sound-Alike Names:
Accupril confused with Aciphex
Acetazolamide confused with Acetohexamide
Aciphex confused with Aricept
Actonel confused with Actos
Adderall confused with Inderal
Adderall confused with Adderall XR
Advair confused with Advicor
Allegra confused with Viagra

Quote of the Month

“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription” –Val Saintsbury

References for May, 2011 Issue

American Acadamy of Dermatology. Facts about Sunscreens. Available at: http://www.aad.org. Accessed April 1, 2011.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Letter to healthcare professionals: communication on lasnsoprazole delayed-release orally disintegrating tablets manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals. Available at: http://www.fda.gov. Accessed April 19, 2011.
Medication Management. List of top ten dangerous drug interactions in long-term care. Available at: http://www.scoup.net. Accessed April 19, 2011.
Institute for Safe Medication Practices. ISMP’s list of confused drug names. Available at: http://www.ismp.org. Accessed April 19, 2011.

Back to News Page

Download

Download our newsletter for reading at a later time.

May, 2011